Ticonderoga firefighter honored

Richard Clark was recently honored for 60 years of service with the Ticonderoga Fire Department.

Richard Clark joined the Ticonderoga Fire Department to be with his friends. Six decades later, he’s still a firefighter.

“I joined when I was 18,” Clark recalled. “It seems like everyone did in those days. All my friends were members of the fire department. Now, the only ones left are Larry Crammond and myself.”

Crammond, Ticonderoga’s longest serving firefighter, has been a company member 66 years.

Clark was recently honored for his service to the Ticonderoga Fire Department.

“He’s still an active member of the department,” Mary Cunningham, Ti FD president, said of Clark. “Now he’s part of the fire police. He’s a valued member of our department.”

To celebrate Clark’s 60 years of firefighting, the Ti resident was presented with a plaque from the department by Chief Jeff Burns; a plaque from the Essex County Board of Supervisors presented by Don Jaquish, county director of emergency services; a proclamation from the town of Ticonderoga given by trustee Jeff Cook; and a certificate from the Firefighters Association of the State of New York presented by Cunningham.

“Sixty years of continuous service to quite an accomplishment,” Cunningham said of Clark. “We’re very proud of Dick.”

During his tenure Clark has held almost every office in the department, serving as assistant chief and vice president along the way.

Clark admits he’s not as active as he once was with the department.

“I can’t do the things I used to,” Clark said. “I still attend the meetings and I get to a fire now and then.”

Clark has enjoyed his career with the Ticonderoga Fire Department and encourages young people to become members.

“It’s a great department,” he said. “We need young people to keep it going. The fire department is always looking for new members.”

Firefighting has changed over the years, Clark said, and so have the demands placed on firefighters.

“It’s hard to be a fireman today,” Clark said. “You have drills, the courses, OSHA training — it’s time consuming and a lot of work.”